No storybook ending for Colorado State football pair

Injured seniors James Skelton, Momo Thomas happy for time with Rams

By Mike Brohard Sports Editor

Posted:
11/21/2012 09:30:30 PM MST

Linebacker James Skelton's senior day won't be quite what he hoped as a broken ankle in the Hawaii game will keep him out of Colorado State's final game of the season Saturday at Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium. (Steve Stoner)

FORT COLLINS -- The final walk onto the field was supposed to be different. For one, both James Skelton and Momo Thomas figured they'd be in uniform, ready for one final game at Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.

The game against New Mexico they'll see Saturday. The unfortunate part for both seniors is neither of them will play due to season-ending injuries.

"It comes with the territory. Playing football, you take the risk of getting hurt every play," said Thomas, who had season-ending shoulder surgery after playing three games. "Just being able to walk out there with the fans, with the team, with the coaches, just for one more time knowing I'm part of the team, hopefully I left some type of legacy here, some history. That's all I want to think about and just enjoy the moment."

Colorado State senior cornerback Momo Thomas will make his first trip to Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium since shoulder surgery ended his season after three games.
(Steve Stoner)

Thomas and Skelton are part of a class of 15 who will be exiting the program. Another, Mike Kawulok, a student-assistant coach, will be on the field, his career ended in the spring by multiple knee surgeries; and junior Immanuel Mitchell will graduate a year early.

Skelton will enter the field on crutches with a cast on the ankle he broke in the win over Hawaii. He said it was hard to realize that's how he'll be on the field Saturday, but he said the toughest day was when he was hurt, when he was told his senior season was done.

But like Thomas and the rest of the class, they will leave Colorado State with a degree and neither one of them holds any real regrets over their time in Fort Collins.

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"I couldn't ask for anything more, honestly," Skelton said. "I walked on, and like any walk on, it's a tall task. I had people surrounding me that kept my head on straight, and my family always supported me and I've had great teammates from the time I got here until I'm leaving now. Overall, the experience was incredible.

"All I knew is I wanted to come here to play football, and that was honestly the only goal I had, and I accomplished that. I want to try to play at the next level. I think I'm going to try to take it there."

In all, 14 of the seniors started games in their careers. They account for 58 starts this season, doing so for new coach Jim McElwain. It's never easy to finish a career knowing you have to impress somebody new, all the while wondering if they view you as the past instead of the present. McElwain tried to let them know he was moving forward -- with them -- but only if they were willing.

That first meeting sticks out to him.

"Probably the look in their eye when I promised them that we were going to gut the guys non-committed," McElwain said. "We were going to make sure they became irrelevant, and I wasn't going to allow them to sour what is special, special time, and that's your senior year. As things have thinned through choices and decisions of those who were here originally, they knew I was going to take care of them and make this something they can hang their hat on for the rest of their lives through different principles.

"They know, I think to a man, 5, 10, 20 years down the road, if they need something, I'm here for them. That goes for any guy who finishes and has been part of our program."

If there were any questions lingering over McElwain's true intentions, Skelton said they were answered early on for him, and from that point forward, he knew McElwain was going to take a personal interest in all the players on the roster he inherited."One day, when Momo got hurt -- I think it was real, real early in the season, maybe fall camp or something, he had hurt his ankle -- and we were all walking out to practice and you walk by the training room and you see Coach Mac helping him get his cleat on and helping him tie up his cleat," Skelton recalled. "I don't know many coaches that would help their player do that, but I mean, that just takes it to such a personal level. You know the guy loves us, and we love him. It's pretty cool to see that."

Skelton, being a Colorado product, could have chosen to go home for the week. However, he has decided to stick around to watch practice, be with his teammates and help out if needed, anything to enjoy his final week as a college player.

Thomas said Saturday will be his first time back to the field, but he hasn't strayed from his coach. He said he built a bond with McElwain right way, promising to be straight forward with the coach and expecting the same in return. Now, McElwain has become somebody he can go to for advice and for helping working out the rough patches.

"I'm happy I had a chance to play for him, even though I didn't finish the whole season," Thomas said. "He's helped me through a lot emotionally off the field that a lot of people don't know about."

The final appearance on the field isn't what either expected, but the journey made to take those steps will long be remembered.

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